Bracknell Forest

Bracknell Forest's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Bracknell Forest increased by 3.3%, from almost 110,000 to 113,000.

The addition of just under 3,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bracknell Forest was home to, on average, 7.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Bracknell Forest, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Bracknell Forest, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 72% in 2001 to 68% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion decreased from 73% to 67%.

Across England, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 68% to 63%.

Private renting in Bracknell Forest increased from 7.9% to 13%, while the rate of social housing remained close to 17%.

The rate of home ownership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Bracknell Forest

The number of people in Bracknell Forest from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,500 in 2001 to about 5,700 in 2011. This represents a change from 2.3% to 5.0% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 2.6% to 5.0%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Bracknell Forest from the White ethnic groups remained close to 100,000 between the last two censuses (from 95% to 91% of the population). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,300 to just over 2,300 (from 1.2% to 2.0%).

Just under 2,200 people (1.0%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 1,100 in 2001 (1.9%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Bracknell Forest increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Bracknell Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.6% to 3.3% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 10%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bracknell Forest decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bracknell Forest, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Bracknell Forest

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Bracknell Forest, the proportion of single people increased from 30% in 2001 to 32% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30% to 35%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Bracknell Forest fell from 53% to 50%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 3.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that were self-employed increased from 8.5% to 9.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Bracknell Forest increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Bracknell Forest, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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